Former IDF general Ofer Winter announced he is ending efforts by existing parties to recruit him, stating that 'the people of Israel demand something new, not more of the same,' according to The Zioneer.
Former IDF general Ofer Winter announced he is ending all efforts by existing political parties to recruit him, declaring that 'the people of Israel demand something new, not more of the same.' The statement, reported by The Zioneer, comes late Tuesday evening and marks his most definitive break from established political frameworks to date.
The announcement follows a day of fast-moving developments. Earlier Tuesday morning (08:47 Jerusalem), reports indicated Winter was in talks to unite with a newly formed Haredi party while ruling out a merger with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. That stance has now been superseded by a broader rejection of any existing party, including the Haredi party, as Winter signals an independent political path.
Winter's independent trajectory has been building for months. As The Zioneer reported on August 10, he had been considering establishing a new party to draw right-wing voters from National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Smotrich. He also refused a merger with Moshe Feiglin's Zehut party in August and publicly rejected joining Likud or Otzma Yehudit, per earlier Zioneer reporting.
The exact timeline for Winter's formal launch remains unclear. He has not announced a party name or slate. The statement appears to confirm an independent bid, but whether the Haredi party talks have been entirely abandoned or remain a possibility under a new format is not yet specified.
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